Business aiming to help expose N.L.’s ‘makers’ to the world

Grand Falls-Windsor native Josh Taylor is the founder and CEO of Newfoundland Trading Company, an online retailer specializing in high quality, locally made products.

Josh Taylor is looking to bring Newfoundland and Labrador products to the world.

At the same time he hopes to help the people who make them be able to stay in the province.

A native of Grand Falls-Windsor, Taylor has founded Newfoundland Trading Company, an online retailer specializing in high quality, locally made products, and serves as CEO for the business.

“For hundreds of years, people have carved out an existence here. We’ve survived through sheer grit and determination. We’ve made it work. And we’ve become outstanding craftspeople, artists, artisans and makers in the process,” he said in a news release Tuesday.

“Now, with our provincial economy in peril once again, and young people considering their futures and thinking about leaving the province, I want to build a company that will help Newfoundlanders stay in Newfoundland”

Taylor said Newfoundland and Labrador is a “land of makers” and his business will help them sell their products outside the province.

“When people come to Newfoundland and Labrador, they love this place, yet we don’t currently offer those outside of Newfoundland an opportunity to engage with - and enjoy - our province from afar. We’re aiming to meet that need. We’re also aiming to help makers focus on doing what they love, which is making high-quality products,” he said.

“Our company will take care of the marketing and sales components of doing business.”

Anyone who makes things – including artists, artisans and craftspeople – and who are interested in selling their products can get in touch with the company by filling out the ‘Become a Maker’ form at https://newfoundlandtrading.com/.

The products must be high quality, locally made, have appeal outside of the province, have the ability to increase the scale of production, and align with the Newfoundland Trading Company brand, the release states.

The company says it will buy products fiting that description up front.

The release says the online shop at the website is currently in preview mode while contracts with makers are being worked out. The full online shop will open this summer.